THE LARGEST ARSENAL IN THE WORLD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9420, 22 June 1882, Page 3

THE LARGEST ARSENAL IN THE WORLD.

The greatest mannfaefcory and storehouse of cannons and war materials is Woolwich Arsenal. It has within its inclosure 280 acres of land, of which some 160 acres are covered with buildings When in full operation it employs 18,000 persons. The amount of ammunition stored here is immense, nnd cannons can be counted by tho hundred. In the storehouse a stock of 20,000 cavalry saddles are kept constantly on hand, with a corresponding amount of horse-shoes, nails, halters, traces, collars, harness for transportation trains, etc. One of the most interesting sights is the manufacture of rifled cannon, the many processes of which are going m in different shops all the time. These range in size from threepounders to one hundred tonners, and the machinery required to mako and handle them is very heavy, the largest forgiDg hammers having 600 tons force. The steel coils of the cannon are made from steel bars, the largest of which arc 300 feet long and a foot thick. These are coiled in a spiral by a heavy but nicelyworking machine, and are welded together by the heavy hammers as- perfectly as an ordinary piece of iron in a blacksmith's shop, and with comparatively few blows. The machinery used is some of the best in the coun try, and much of it was made in Manchester. One lathe-room has over an.acre space, closely filled in w ith 2000 lathes, and a busy sight it is to see them all in motion, One machine for the manufacture of fixed ammunition turns 0ut',205 cartridge moulds every revolution, nnd has the capacity of 250,000 daily. The several shops and buildings are connected with railways for moving material. These aggregate a great many miles.